Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, marking a significant shift from the position held by previous Conservative administrations.
Speaking on The Rest is Politics podcast, Burnham revealed that he had asked directly whether Moscow attempted to influence the EU referendum upon entering Downing Street, and received a clear confirmation that it had, according to The Guardian.
“I asked the question coming to Downing Street: well, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was,” the prime minister said.
The admission contrasts sharply with the stance taken by successive Conservative governments, which maintained there was no evidence of successful Russian interference in the referendum that fundamentally reshaped Britain’s relationship with Europe.
Parliamentary report highlighted government failures
Burnham did not disclose who provided the assessment, what evidence underpinned it, or whether any interference had materially affected the outcome of the vote, which saw 52 per cent of voters back leaving the European Union.
A 2020 report by parliament’s intelligence and security committee strongly criticised both the government and intelligence agencies for failing to properly investigate potential Russian meddling in the referendum.
The cross-party committee found that ministers had not sought a comprehensive assessment of Moscow’s activities, despite evidence of attempts to influence British politics through Russian state-backed media outlets and social media accounts.
The report noted that no post-referendum assessment of Russian interference attempts had been conducted, in stark contrast to the investigation carried out in the United States following the 2016 presidential election. The committee stressed that whether a hostile state had sought to influence a democratic process remained important regardless of whether those efforts succeeded.
Warning on European far-right and Russian links
Burnham argued that Britain needed greater transparency about attempts by hostile states to interfere in its politics, particularly as European leaders confront the rise of far-right movements across the continent.
“These things are important now to put clearly on the record and I believe help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia,” Burnham told the podcast.
The prime minister said he had discussed the threat posed by the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a visit to Berlin this week. According to Burnham, Merz expressed concerns about the party’s links to Russia.
“He was saying to me that the AfD are clearly linked to Russia – funded, I believe,” Burnham said, adding that misinformation and disinformation emanating from Russia was flowing into German politics.
Last month, Burnham attacked Russian information warfare during a speech to the UN General Assembly, saying there was evidence Moscow had tried to interfere with the 2019 general election.
What this means for Poles in the UK
For the estimated 700,000 Poles living in the United Kingdom, Burnham’s confirmation of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum provides official acknowledgement of foreign meddling in the vote that led to Britain’s departure from the EU. Many Poles faced uncertainty about their status following the referendum, eventually needing to apply for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to remain legally in the country.
While the prime minister’s statement does not change the outcome of Brexit or affect immigration status, it may influence future UK-EU relations. Burnham has previously indicated his government would examine all options for Britain’s future relationship with Brussels, including the possibility of eventually rejoining the EU. Any such development could have significant implications for Polish citizens in the UK, potentially affecting free movement rights, recognition of qualifications and access to services.
The admission also underscores the importance of democratic integrity in the UK political system, which directly affects all residents, including the Polish community. Those eligible to vote in UK elections should remain vigilant about potential misinformation, particularly information shared on social media platforms that may originate from hostile foreign sources.
